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UNC Asheville promotes McDevitt to head coach

Assistant replaces longtime coach Biedenbach, who is now at UNCW

From staff reports

Published: Friday, April 26, 2013 at 11:24 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 26, 2013 at 11:24 a.m.

When longtime UNC Asheville men's basketball coach Eddie Biedenbach announced he was leaving the school to take an assistant job at UNC Wilmington earlier this month, he told administrators there was one clear choice to be his successor: Nick McDevitt.

The administrators agreed.

On Friday, the school announced that McDevitt was hired to replace Biedenbach, becoming the sixth head coach of the Bulldog basketball program.

"Nick is very deserving of this opportunity. I am very happy for him and know he'll do a great job," Biedenbach said. "Nick was an exemplary player and coach for our program and a key reason for our success."

UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone made the official announcement at an afternoon press conference held Friday at the Wilma Sherrill Center.

"We are delighted to introduce Nick McDevitt as our new head basketball coach," she said. "In the nine years I've worked with Nick, he has always conducted himself as a champion and a leader. Nick has earned this opportunity. While guiding our program this past month, he distinguished himself as the leading candidate during the search process. Nick is the perfect person to continue not only our winning tradition that we have established at UNC Asheville but also to provide us with a vision and a plan for greater levels of achievement in the future."

UNC Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder was also in attendance Friday and said it was a proud moment for the college to name McDevitt as Biedenbach's successor.

"As a four-year player who maintained a place on the Dean's List while majoring in history, Nick has embodied how to do Division I athletics the right way. It is a testament to Nick's work ethic and basketball IQ that he is now ready to carry on the UNC Asheville tradition of excellence. Nick is the best person to build on UNC Asheville's momentum, and to give our young, exciting Bulldog team the leadership they need to be successful on and off the court," Ponder said.

McDevitt is a 2001 graduate of UNC Asheville and a former Madison High standout. He was a four-year letterman during his playing days at UNC Asheville from 1997-2001. In his senior season, he was fifth on the team in 3-pointers made with 11 and led the team in 3-point percentage (52 percent).

After getting his degree at UNC Asheville, McDevitt was immediately hired by Biedenbach to be an assistant coach. He was humbled by the remarks of administrators on Friday and also eager to get started as head coach.

"I want to thank Janet Cone, Chancellor Ponder and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to continue my journey in coaching at such a wonderful place," McDevitt said. "UNC Asheville has a rich basketball tradition. We have been fortunate to enjoy the Eddie Biedenbach era, and I believe that we are poised to do even better greater things. I'm excited about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead."

He served as an assistant for 10 seasons before being elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2011. During McDevitt's tenure as an assistant and associate head coach, the Bulldog program captured three Big South Conference Tournament championships, three Big South regular-season titles and made four postseason trips. Asheville has competed in the NCAA tournament three times (2003, 2011, 2012) and the NIT once (2008). The Bulldog program has posted a 113-82 overall record over the last six seasons and a Big South-best 68-34 league record during that period.

<p>When longtime UNC Asheville men's basketball coach Eddie Biedenbach announced he was leaving the school to take an assistant job at UNC Wilmington earlier this month, he told administrators there was one clear choice to be his successor: Nick McDevitt.</p><p>The administrators agreed.</p><p>On Friday, the school announced that McDevitt was hired to replace Biedenbach, becoming the sixth head coach of the Bulldog basketball program.</p><p>"Nick is very deserving of this opportunity. I am very happy for him and know he'll do a great job," Biedenbach said. "Nick was an exemplary player and coach for our program and a key reason for our success." </p><p>UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone made the official announcement at an afternoon press conference held Friday at the Wilma Sherrill Center. </p><p>"We are delighted to introduce Nick McDevitt as our new head basketball coach," she said. "In the nine years I've worked with Nick, he has always conducted himself as a champion and a leader. Nick has earned this opportunity. While guiding our program this past month, he distinguished himself as the leading candidate during the search process. Nick is the perfect person to continue not only our winning tradition that we have established at UNC Asheville but also to provide us with a vision and a plan for greater levels of achievement in the future." </p><p>UNC Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder was also in attendance Friday and said it was a proud moment for the college to name McDevitt as Biedenbach's successor.</p><p>"As a four-year player who maintained a place on the Dean's List while majoring in history, Nick has embodied how to do Division I athletics the right way. It is a testament to Nick's work ethic and basketball IQ that he is now ready to carry on the UNC Asheville tradition of excellence. Nick is the best person to build on UNC Asheville's momentum, and to give our young, exciting Bulldog team the leadership they need to be successful on and off the court," Ponder said.</p><p>McDevitt is a 2001 graduate of UNC Asheville and a former Madison High standout. He was a four-year letterman during his playing days at UNC Asheville from 1997-2001. In his senior season, he was fifth on the team in 3-pointers made with 11 and led the team in 3-point percentage (52 percent). </p><p>After getting his degree at UNC Asheville, McDevitt was immediately hired by Biedenbach to be an assistant coach. He was humbled by the remarks of administrators on Friday and also eager to get started as head coach.</p><p>"I want to thank Janet Cone, Chancellor Ponder and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to continue my journey in coaching at such a wonderful place," McDevitt said. "UNC Asheville has a rich basketball tradition. We have been fortunate to enjoy the Eddie Biedenbach era, and I believe that we are poised to do even better greater things. I'm excited about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead."</p><p>He served as an assistant for 10 seasons before being elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2011. During McDevitt's tenure as an assistant and associate head coach, the Bulldog program captured three Big South Conference Tournament championships, three Big South regular-season titles and made four postseason trips. Asheville has competed in the NCAA tournament three times (2003, 2011, 2012) and the NIT once (2008). The Bulldog program has posted a 113-82 overall record over the last six seasons and a Big South-best 68-34 league record during that period.</p>